Backstage with Wendy Holliday, CEO, PayTech Women

Wendy Holliday, M.Ed., CAE
CEO, PayTech Women

November 16, 2022 -- MPC Show Times

Q>What inspired Wnet’s rebranding and how does the new name and brand reflect your vision and mission?

In 2005, the founders of Women’s Network in Electronic Transactions (Wnet) created a unique space for hundreds of women in the payments industry to connect, network and share objective advice. Wnet inspired thousands of women during those years, and their loyalty and passion are still on display every day.

Much has changed in payments in the past 15 years and much has changed with respect to the needs of all women in this field. We wanted to examine who is served, highlight new opportunities and create even more meaningful inclusion and programming that is truly impactful for our now 5,000+ members.

Helping women rise in payments means attracting and engaging women at all levels in our industry. Being intentional about a message and a brand is critical to connect in the right way with influential and priority audiences. After surveying our membership and working with our board and stakeholders to examine the Wnet brand and messaging, we knew the time was right to evolve the legacy of Wnet while recognizing the future of the organization.

With the assistance of PR and marketing expert Jennifer Tramontana, Founder and President of The Fletcher Group, we conducted in-depth interviews with Wnet Founders, the executive team, corporate partners and sponsors, members and regional representation. Our strengths and the opportunities were captured as we explored the competitive and industry landscapes. After an intensive year of collaborative work, new messaging pillars were created to capture the spirit, value and affinity of Wnet but speak directly to our different audiences.

However, the messaging was only part of the brand journey. We asked ourselves what name, brand marks, colors and design elements would best represent the tone and spirit of the evolved messaging. We introduced – and celebrated – the new brand at our 15 th annual Leadership Summit, EmPowered by FIS, in Atlanta on September 28 during a special luncheon: PayTech Women Make Their Mark.

Our new name and logo, PayTech Women (PTW), is modern, clear and powerful. The font has clean lines and perfect circles. The peak in the W represents the summit or peak that we help each other reach through our network of dedicated and driven, professional women. The circles represent connection and inclusivity.

Our colors are bold, strong, and full of energy: Trailblazer Teals, Innovative Oranges, Elevation Greys. Our tagline is simply our mission stated concisely in three present tense, action words: Rise. Thrive. Connect.

While our mission – to create a stronger and more diverse industry by empowering and investing in women – has not changed, our laser focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) will enable us to better improve the working environment and opportunities for all women in payments by propelling meaningful change.

PayTech Women, formerly Wnet, is the ONLY non-profit, professional network that helps women break through barriers to achieve their ambitions in the payments industry – however high those ambitions reach. We are a place for every woman in payments – and their advocates – to RISE, THRIVE and CONNECT.

Read more of MPC Show Times interview with PayTech Women CEO Wendy Holliday.